Amala

Amala is the duo of Reidun Schlesinger (harps) and Paul de Grae (guitars). We play music from several centuries, in original arrangements. The core of our repertoire is Irish: traditional Irish tunes, and music from the Irish harp repertoire; we also play tunes from various continental European countries, Renaissance and early classical pieces, some jazz, and our own (rather jazz-tinged) compositions.

Reidun is originally from Belgium and has lived in Kerry (south-west Ireland) since 2008; she has considerable experience of playing solo and in bands in Belgium, Germany and France, and recorded three CDs with the Belgian band Amorroma.

From Dublin, but now also based in Kerry, Paul has played and recorded with Matt Cranitch & Jackie Daly, Aoife Ní Chaoimh & Paudie O’Connor, and the trio Smoky Chimney, among others. In 1989 he published “Traditional Irish Guitar”, the first such tutor book; and he has written for The Companion to Irish Traditional Music, An Píobaire and other publications.

We co-presented “From Chieftain’s Court to Polka Sets: 500 Years of Harping in Kerry”, a lecture/recital in the “Handed Down” series in Scartaglin Heritage Centre in Kerry, and we presented an expanded version as part of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s “Notes and Narratives” series in their Dublin headquarters.

Our CD “resonance” was released in June 2016.

Angus Stewart

Angus Alexander Stewart, born Jan.31/1960 at Springdale NL, to Scottish(father) and English(mother) immigrant parents. Calls Ramea home for the past 50 yrs, married to a Ramea girl and have one son and two grandchildren. Currently working in Norris Point on the tour boat the EmmCat . Enjoys playing guitar and bass and songwriting. One commercial CD release, Reefer, Hold Fast,(all original material) and one in progress ,also all original material. Have had my songs recorded by Shanneyganock, Anchors Aweigh, Jeff Quilty, Fergus O’byrne/Jim Payne, and Jordan Harnum(in progress).

Barbara Bellows

Barbara Bellows began her singing career while earning her music education degree at Boston
University. She performed in the folk tradition in coffee houses and college concerts. In the early
1970’s, she helped form a group, “The Canaan Concertante”, that performed Renaissance and
Baroque music with voice, recorders, shawms, sackbut and guitar. In 1978, she issued an LP
album called, Barbara Bellows: At the Bee and Thistle Inn, featuring traditional songs that she
sang a cappella or accompanied by herself on guitar, recorder or Appalachian dulcimer. In the
late 1990’s, she helped form ArtCare, bringing art and music to patients at the Dartmouth-
Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon. NH, by singing with or for patients, putting poems to music,
etc. She still teaches piano and continues to perform at various venues including TTT. Facebook

Daniel Payne

Daniel has been a favorite at TTT festivals since its beginning and now serves as its Artistic Director . He has worked for over a decade as a professional musician and has collected songs and dance tunes from older Newfoundland and Labrador traditional players.
Starting in his teens with guitar and voice, Daniel has become proficient in a wide variety of instruments, including fiddle, accordion, mandolin, flute, whistle, and bodhran. He has also enjoyed a successful career as an actor in theatre and film.
Daniel’s first solo album, Chain, won the Celtic Connections 2008 Album of the Year Award. He has also released an instructional DVD for people who want to play Newfoundland traditional music on the tin whistle.
Daniel’s newest album was made with Miranda Power, Angie Payne, Stephanie Payne, Marquita Walsh, and Jonny Payne. The new album was recorded, as the title says, ” Live in Sally’s Cove”. It’s a sweet little recording that captures the warm feeling of music on a winter’s day in the cabin, or wherever your cozy winter spot is. They haven’t tried to hide the sounds of wind, water or woodstove!

Gayle Tapper

Gayle has been spotted over the years with her harp on stage with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, or playing exploratory music during the wild and fabulous Sound Symposium. Her harps are classical, Celtic, electric and South American and she is now mostly engaged with world/traditional music on her Paraguayan harp. Gayle teaches at the all-ages Vinland Music Camp, held each August in Gros Morne, and also plays regularly at the Seaside Restaurant in Trout River.

Gloria & Jack Kent

Jack Kent hails from Bell Island, which is irreverent, I mean irrelevant . He has been playing fiddle and guitar since he was knee high to a grasshopper, which is also irrelevant , because he keeps making the same mistakes . But enough of this, come and hear him play and judge for yourself.

Gloria first played on her Grandmother’s piano. She studied piano and voice from the age of eight and taught piano for many years. She’s enjoyed playing piano in many different venues and looks forward to this year’s Trails Tales Tunes.

Jodie Rice

Jodie has 20 plus years of playing and recording across Canada as a solo act and with various groups including: Past Midnight, Double Play, The Chase, Uncle Harry’s Bar Band, Drake and Rice and The Lamplighters. Recently he has worked as sound tech for The Anchors Aweigh Show. Facebook

Kacie Callahan

Kacie started out as a children’s’ entertainer in a family band, traveling around Newfoundland with her father and little sister. She fronted rock cover band Papa String in her hometown of Grand Falls before branching out into own acoustic solo shows. Now residing on the West Coast of Newfoundland and loving every minute, Kacie writes her own material, as well as performing covers of all genres and decades including anything from Dean Martin, to The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, and beyond. Facebook

Lena Onalik

Lena Onalik is an Inuk from Makkovik, NL, currently residing in Corner Brook. Lena has been throat singing since childhood with her late grandma, Susie Onalik. She started Inuit drumming in 2006, with a group of urban Inuit in st. John’s as a means of reviving and keeping this tradition alive for Labrador Inuit. Lena enjoys sharing her culture and traditions through throat singing and Inuit drumming and storytelling.

Mike McDonald

Michael is a Music Newfoundland and Labrador award winner (The Catch-1999) and a SOCAN Songwriter of the Year nominee for his hauntingly beautiful ballad, “Whale Bones”. The Left Coast is Mike’s solo debut. It offers a great mix of original songs and classic tunes including a reggae version of Ron Hynes’ famous anthem, Sonny’s Dream. A light, thoughtful acoustic departure from Mike’s drumming work (The Catch, The Fables), The Left Coast is simple and beautiful. Facebook

Roxanne Ryland

Roxanne Ryland ..storyteller from Deer Lake Newfoundland. I have been telling stories at schools, libraries, churches and many festivals for many years. I focus mainly on doing children’s storytelling and I also share many of my stories with visitors to the province whenever I get a chance to do bus tours. I focus on local stories as much as possible but I also enjoy doing fairy tales fables and legends..prior to telling stories I was a primary teacher for 31 years

Sherman Downey

Sherman Downey’s music embraces Folk-Roots and Country while flirting with Pop-Rock and at times even Bossa Nova, but one thing is for certain; he just makes you feel good. His highly anticipated second release The Sun in your Eyes recently brought home Newfoundland and Labrador’s ‘Pop/Rock Recording’ award as well as a nod from SOCAN with the province’s ‘SOCAN Songwriter of the Year’ distinction. The album includes CBC’s first Searchlight Competition winning song ‘Thick as Thieves” and other gems like “Annalee” and “The Right Idea”; songs that have found regular rotation across Canada on Campus Radio and the CBC, as well as garnering attention internationally with airplay on stations in LA, Australia and the UK. Sherman continues to find his way into the hearts of listeners with his charming delivery of solid songs and has carved out a spot as one of the most exciting acts to add to your calendar this year. WebsiteFacebookTwitter